Method for anonymously registering, storing and using body material and/or information derived therefrom

1. A method for anonymously registering, storing and using a sample of body material of a depositor and/or information derived from the sample of body material, wherein access to the sample and/or the information derived from the sample can be given to the depositor only after he/she has provided a biological key, comprising the steps of: (a) submitting a sample of body material of the depositor to a cell/tissue bank; (b) registering said sample of body material under an anonymous code; (c) using said sample of body material for deriving information: i) by determination of a biological characteristic of the sample of body material that distinguishes individuals or; ii) by determination of a biological characteristic of the sample of body material that distinguishes individuals and deriving data from the sample of body material, other than said biological characteristic that distinguishes individuals, wherein the data are selected from the group consisting of diagnostic data, medical data, biological data, medical research data, and biotechnological research data; d) storing said sample of body material and/or said data under said anonymous code and linking said biological characteristic to said sample of body material and/or said data via the anonymous code in a secured databank; and e) recovering the stored sample of body material and/or said data derived from the sample of body material, and giving access to said recovered sample and/or data by the consent of the depositor for purposes chosen from the group consisting of medical treatment, research, and diagnostics, after the depositor of the sample provides a biological key in the form of a depositor biological characteristic that is identical with said biological characteristic of said sample of body material, i) when the depositor remains anonymous, or ii) when the depositor identifies him/herself.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biological characteristic comprises a DNA-fingerprint.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biological characteristic comprises a pattern of types of molecules present in the body material.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the pattern comprises an arithmetical ratio of numbers of molecules originating from two or more types of molecules present in the body material.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the types of molecules are chosen from the group consisting of proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, lipids, lipoproteins, glycolipids and nucleotides.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anonymous code is selected from the group consisting of a number code, a letter code, a number and letter code, a bar code, and a matrix code.